Pancake Breakfast Ticket Sales Event

Sweet Sales Success!

Our ticket sales event got off to a great start with 17 Scouts selling 213 tickets. Many buyers donated tickets to St Vinny's and to the Salvation Army. As a result, we'll be feeding a lot of hungry people on May 9th.

All Scouts who participated will split the evening's proceeds evenly. Great work guys! 

After tonight, Scouts are encouraged to continue selling right up until the 9th. The Troop will credit a Scout's scholarship fund $3 for each ticket they sell. These funds can be used for Scout related purchases and for camp tuition. Interested Scouts should also plan ahead for a trip to the National Jamboree next year. 

And don't forget to sell to family, friends, and teachers. Always remember, though - sell safely! Always go with a buddy and an adult, and don't carry large amounts of cash with you. 

Klondike Derby

The boys have come a long way in their fire building skills

Wikipedia describes the Klondike Derby as a winter Scouting event that tests skills and leadership along the theme of the Klondike Gold Rush. However, here in the Pere Marquette area, the derby tested patrols from five area troops along a decidedly more Hobbity theme - specifically Peter Jackson's third movie of his Hobbit trilogy

In addition to carrying staffs and dragging a sled, the boys practiced lashings, compass reading, orienteering, knot tying, shelter building, and, of course, fire building. They also raced against the clock, winched their sled up hill, and defended against invading orc hordes.

The exercise and hot soup kept the boys warm, and a dozen volunteers kept everything else running smoothly. What a great tradition!

And if you've never seen a horde of invading orcs, you'll want to check out the event's photo album.

Pizza Fundraiser

DJ - taking one for the team

We tried a new fundraiser this summer - pizza! We topped $255 selling pizza and pop at the Festival of Treasures in Ishpeming.

The boys had a lot of fun working the crowds. I think the costumes are going to become a tradition, though maybe not the tape.

If this year is any indication, next year will be fantastic. 

Spring Camporee

Testing their lashings in a race

Like last year, this year's spring had been "extended" (for a limited time only...) So yes, we had snow and freezing rain right up to Friday morning. Boys went off to school wondering if their parents had the fortitude to let them go to the Spring Camporee. Parents sent their boys off to school wondering if their sons might freeze to the ground that very night. Never mind the forecasted lows were a good 50 degrees warmer than our coldest winter days... that's really not saying much in these parts.

By the time school let out, the weather had cleared, and it was almost easy to ignore the forecast for freezing temperatures overnight. Two Troops and a handful of Scouts backed out, but only one of our boys.

So... the weather Saturday was beautiful with blue skies, a significant warm-up, and lots of sunshine with Sunday bringing more of the same.

And the camporee? It came off without a hitch. Let the others gnash their teeth in envy, Scoutmaster Carl organized and pulled off a really great event with a lot of  help from a lot of really great Scouting folks from our Troop and others. With everyone pitching in, we all got to have a lot of fun.

Fun like...

• testing visual memories
• challenging navigation skills
• patrol sprints using only four legs and four arms (eight legged monster)
• a canoe portage challenge course
• fire building
• match splitting (with a hatchet)
• readiness testing (Scouting essentials)
• Dutch oven entree and dessert cooking 
• and lots of lashings (knot tying)

Of course, we've got a photo album of a lot of the fun stuff, but there was so much going on, there was no way to capture it all!

The boys got off to a great start Saturday morning

One special feature for us included using the "Patrol Method" for the first time. Carl organized the boys into three patrols, each with a patrol leader and assistant. The patrols planned their own meals and duty rosters, set up their own tents, prepared their own food, and cleaned up their own messes. 

"How did that work out for you?" you may well ask. Well... I heard lots of yelling and arguing and debating and trial and error, and they got a lot done, too. 

The "Patrol Method" forms the heart of Scouting. It was new to most of our Scouts, but it's a really great tool to teach leadership skills, self-reliance, teamwork, and so much more. All the boys slept in tents, no one missed a meal, and the campsite was cleaner when we left than when we arrived. More importantly (probably), the boys have started learning how to organize themselves and work together as a team.

From a parent's point of view, watching the boys employ the Patrol Method was like watching five boys all learn to ride the same bicycle all piled on at the same time. But by standing back and watching them work things out for themselves, they learned far more far faster than they would have during any Troop meeting. 

A lot more.

Copper Country Merit Badge Day

Danny got wrapped up in First Aid

Ten Scouts and a handful of parents took a road trip to the Copper Country to give the boys a chance to earn a Merit Badge today. Merit Badges offered included first aid, fingerprinting, insect study, fish and wildlife management, and chess.

The boys came away with signed "blue cards", an appreciation for Michigan Tech, and some really great ideas - some of which did not involve bugs.

This was a great way to spend a dreary, damp, and chilly spring Saturday. We've got more great photos here in our trip album!

Klondike Derby

Exiting the secret entrance into Laketown

Bilbo and Thorin's company continued their quest for the Arkenstone this year. Threatened by orcs and spiders, they crossed a river, forest, and lake, and faced hunger, injury, and many other challenges. Yet they maintained their spirits with song and cheer and hot soup until at last they found the fearsome dragon, Smaug, high in the snowy mountains.

Troop 321 fielded two patrols, and both were awarded numerous ribbons for their many achievements. Next year they will have the chance to complete their quest and return safely home. Will they make it? We can only hope.

Some Scouts chronicled their exploits in song and others with many images, each according to the custom of his land. Our local bards were out as well to share our exploits with the world. Thanks also to the many adult volunteers from our Troop and from Pere Marquette zone for all the work they put into this event. It's a big deal, and the boys enjoyed it immensely.

Lock-in!

The night went a lot like this...

It's winter and the boys sometimes get squirrelly, so what's a Troop to do? Lock. Them. In! It's an idea so brilliant, it makes you wonder why we don't do this every month... Volunteers? Anyone?

So we locked the boys in, and we had a enough volunteers that Carl didn't have to wander the hallways muttering to himself. And the boys and their brothers and their friends went about the very serious business of having fun.

Video games abounded with Flappy Birds causing the most buzz - and frustration. Next door a non-stop game of  "capture the fort" dominated the gym. The boys turned hockey sticks into rifles or canons, a scooter became a scout car, and with only a little prodding, they conscripted two trash cans on wheels to serve as battle tanks.

It's also true that a few sleeping bags saw limited service as sleeping bags, but that wasn't discouraged. There's more evidence of good times here in this album, too!

Cub Winter Games

They're working - see the clipboard?

Cub Winter Games? We've been there, done that, and brought home the ribbons as Cubs. As Scouts, we’ve got the Klondike Derby to look forward to in a couple of weeks, so what have we to do with Cub Winter Games anymore now that we’re a lot older?

The answer is easy: we help run the games! From set up to take down and all points in between, Troop 321’s Scouts were on hand to lend a hand.

In addition, we helped raise nearly $200 for Nelson William's family, and we've got a whole album of fun uploaded and ready to view, too. Great job guys!

Cardboard Classic

Troop 321 blasting through the crash barrier

Sometimes the weather doesn't hold up for the Scouts' outdoor activities, but the Cardboard Classic event never fails. After all, we only need freezing weather in the middle of the winter in the U.P.!

Troop 321 entered two sleds this year, both with experienced teams. They fielded some super fast sleds, but they just weren't fast enough. But no matter, everyone had a blast!

You can find more action photos here, and news coverage here!

A few of the boys arrived early to the event so they could help the Cubs lug their sleds up the hill - a favor the smaller boys sure appreciated! It's great when the older boys show the younger boys both kindness and leadership.

Gearing up for the Cardboard Classic

Scoutmaster Carl Chilling Out

Now that the snow crunches under foot, our breath comes out in steamy wisps, and the days are starting to lengthen, it must be time to gear up for the Cardboard Classic!

Of course, the first order of business is to fashion sleds out of duct tape and cardboard. Classic! I've heard that in warmer climes, they make watercraft out of these materials, and, I suppose, snow is just another form of water...

We'll race on February 1st, but today was all about ingenuity, engineering, and hot chocolate (thank you Amy!).

We've got at least two racers read to rip!

Project Keep Kids Warm - Part 2

Jackson & Gary visited 108 Apartments

Project Keep Kids Warm continued today with a very large community turnout. On this day, we distributed the bags we'd prepared last Tuesday. They went to Negaunee, Ishpeming, Ishpeming West, Republic, and Michigamme, nearly 7,000 bags in all. Pack 321 and Troop 321 contributed 9 scout volunteers in uniform and several adults. The boys represented themselves well.

The weather didn't cooperate for the first time in four years. However, we saw no shortage of help, and they covered all the routes as if it had been a sunny day. We have a word for that, sisu, and we have it here in abundance.

Hot dogs, hot chili, chips and sodas greeted the volunteers back at Wesley upon their return. And really, is there a better way to spend a rainy, dreary Saturday morning (short of a spa) than helping ensure no child goes without a warm winter coat this coming season?

You can read more about our efforts today here in the news.

Hessel International Scout Rally

Troop 321 cir. 1849

Hessel International Scout Rally enjoyed precisely 1,016 registered participants in this, our first year of attending. This year's theme: "Miner '49ers." We invited Pack 321's Webelos, and they made a good showing for themselves.

Unlike merit badge oriented summer camps, units set up campsites and activity centers to share with others. Each unit then traveled as a group from site to site participating in the various activities. We also competed for prizes in events that included cooking, costumes, cleanest campsite, and campsite entrances.

Carl and Darryl set up a "gold" panning station where the kids could wash out gold painted iron pellets. Robert set up an "Old Tyme" photo booth to take group pictures. While we didn't win any prizes, our free souvenirs were very popular, and we received many thank-you emails for the photos.

We've also posted photo galleries for Saturday and Sunday for those who would like to see the troop in action.

Camp Hiawatha

Jackson mixing it up

Crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts, merit badges, rank advancement, camping skills, popcorn sales, spaghetti dinners, it all comes down to... summer camp!

At Camp Hiawatha the scouts really had a chance to cut loose and explore their interests. Some boys took up space exploration and built their own model rockets. Others took on sculpture, basketry, rifle shooting, Indian lore, wood carving, and more.

The boys also took on more responsibility around the campsite than they had when they were cubs. As Boy Scouts, they helped prepare and clean up after meals, maintain the fire and firewood supplies, participate in flag ceremonies, and set up their own tents.

We had a great week, and the boys played while they learned. If only school could be like this! Check out our album to get an even better picture.